Portuguese Water Dogs (PWDs) are a medium-sized breed. They have a unique coat, which can be either curly or wavy. These dogs were initially used by fishermen as a helping hand for various tasks.
Excellent swimmers, PWDs are known for their playful and lively personality. Here, we will navigate all the information and characteristics of the Portuguese Water Dogs.
Overview
Let's have a look at some of the characteristics of Portuguese water dogs below:
- Height: 17 to 23 inches
- Weight: 42 to 50 pounds
- Size: Medium
- Lifespan: 11 to 13 years
- Standard Colors: Black, Brown and White
- Markings: White markings
- Coat Type: Tight, low-shedding curls
- Personality/ Temperament: Friendly, Kind and Intelligent
- Kid Friendly: Yes
- Other Pets Friendly: Yes
History
The ancestors of Portuguese water dogs were from Asia. They were brought to Portugal by the Moors where they were bred with local dogs. The breed was primarily used by Portuguese fishermen to assist in various maritime tasks.
The swimming ability, strength, and intelligence of Portuguese water dogs were highly valued at that time.
Some skills they possessed were retrieving fishing nets that had become tangled or broken underwater, herding schools of fish into nets, and delivering messages between boats or from boats to shore. In this way, this dog breed worked closely with humans in demanding maritime environments.
Later, in the mid-20th century, Portuguese water dogs were recognized outside of Portugal. They became popular across the world in a very short time for their friendly and energetic nature.
Characteristics Rating of Portuguese Water Dogs
Here, we have rated the characteristics of Portuguese Water Dogs out of 5:
| Characteristics | Rating |
| Intelligence | 5/5 |
| Trainability | 5/5 |
| Activity Level | 4/5 |
| Friendliness | 5/5 |
| Adaptability | 4/5 |
| Independence | 3/5 |
Temperament and Intelligence
Portuguese Water Dogs (PWDs) are known for their distinctive temperament and high level of intelligence, these key characteristics of the breed are described below:
Friendly and Affectionate: PWDs are friendly towards their families. They enjoy being close to their owners and love to gain their attention. They often seek out cuddles, belly rubs, and lap time, where they can show their love warmly and gently.
Loyal and Devoted: They are known for their loyalty and devotion to their families. They highly pay attention to their owner's commands and respond to them. They prefer to be close to their owners and participate in daily activities, whether it's going for walks, playing games, or simply lounging together.
Energetic and Playful: PWDs have a playful nature and plenty of energy. They love to engage in playing fetch and any other interactive activities. Their playful nature makes them desire playtime and engagement with their owners.
Alert and Watchful: PWDs are known for their attentive and vigilant nature. Though they are not usually aggressive, they can show protective instincts towards their family and home. This alert and watchful nature made them an excellent companion for fishermen in the past.
Confident and Problem Solvers: These dog breeds possess a natural curiosity and adaptability. This allows them to approach new situations with confidence.
This trait is rooted in their role as working dogs, which allows them to solve a variety of tasks on demand. In everyday life, they are eager to explore their surroundings and engage in activities that challenge their abilities. As they are self-assured, they quickly learn how to adapt to new environments.
Not a Socially Independent Dog: Portuguese Water Dogs have an affectionate and people-oriented nature. They are happiest when they are surrounded by their owners and can be involved in family activities.
This tendency towards sociability may have come from their their history as working dogs where they worked closely with fishermen with whom they worked forming close bonds.
Highly Intelligent: Portuguese Water Dogs are ranked among the most intelligent dog breeds. They have quick learning abilities and strong problem-solving skills.
They have a keen ability to learn new commands and tasks rapidly. They are responsive to training and enjoy challenges that can engage their problem-solving instincts. This makes them excel in canine sports such as tracking and dock diving as well.
Eager to Please: These breeds have a strong desire to please their owners. If they are consistently rewarded with praise, treats, or playtime, they can effectively pay attention to their training sessions. This inherent trait helps them excel in any kind of training and also makes them loyal companions of the fishermen.
Versatile Working Ability: These breeds were originally bred for tasks related to water-based activities. Beyond their traditional roles, they now excel in modern-day activities, thanks to their intelligence and versatility.
They can be trained for obedience trials, agility courses, flyball, and rally obedience, and much more. Their skills can also be utilized to benefit people in need, by training them as search and rescue dogs.
Puppies of Portuguese Water Dogs
Puppies of Portuguese water dogs(PWDs) can be obtained from breeders as well as rescue organizations. To obtain a healthy PWD puppy, you can either purchase them from reputable breeders or adopt them from rescuers.
It's best to get these puppies from responsible breeders, but it's also okay to provide a home to rescued ones.
Portuguese Water Dog Club of America (PWDCA) allows you to search for a reputable breeder. Make sure these breeders provide prioritized health testing and good care of the puppies.
If you want to adopt PWDs from rescue organizations, find a reliable source for the purchase. These rescued ones end up there for a variety of reasons and may need proper health examinations. American Kennel Club (AKC) Marketplace is the most trusted source to help you find a rescued one.
Whatever option you choose to adopt a PWD pup, make sure to ask for their health history and temperament and once you bring them home, start early socialization and training.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Family Dogs?
Portuguese Water Dogs (PWDs) are excellent family dogs. PWDs are way too social and love to become part of the family unity. They thrive on human companionship and are very affectionate. They show love in various forms such as cuddling, leaning against their owners, and giving kisses.
They are very patient and gentle with kids. Their playful nature and high energy level match all kinds of kids. PWDs enjoy spending time with kids whether it's playing or cuddling, thereby making them good friends over time.
The patient and tolerant behavior of these dog breeds allows them to handle the excitement and energy of younger children with grace.
Intelligent and highly trainable, PWDs can be easily taught appropriate behaviors. They are also very sensitive to their owners' sentiments, so they will act accordingly, depending upon your sentiments.
Their keen intuition for when their owners need emotional support makes them perfect companions during tough times. Being loyal and devoted, these dog breeds can be a beautiful addition to your family.
Are Portuguese Water Dogs Friendly With Other Pets?
If properly socialized, Portuguese Water Dogs become friendly and get along well with other pets. Their social nature does not make them friendly only with humans but they also love interacting with other pets. They exhibit approachable behavior towards other pets present in the household.
They enjoy interactive activities with pets that have similar playful nature and plenty of energy. Their gentle demeanor makes them able to interact with smaller pets or animals that may be more timid or reserved.
If given proper time, PWDs can learn to coexist peacefully with different types of animals, whether they are cats, smaller dogs, or even birds.
If you are planning to introduce PWDs to other pets, we recommend you provide PWDs with early training and socialization to make them adaptable to other pets. When introduced to other animals in a positive and controlled manner, they will certainly show friendly and respectful behavior.
Caring and Grooming
Here are some tips for caring and grooming Portuguese Water Gogs:
Grooming
Coat Care: PWDs have a curly or wavy coat. Such a coat requires regular grooming to prevent matting and tangling. We suggest you to brush their coat at least a few times a week using a slicker brush or a pin brush.
Such brushes help remove loose hair, dirt, and debris. As PWDs have curly coats around their face, ears, and paws, they should be regularly trimmed for ease.
Bathing: PWDs have water-resistant coats. So, they don't need frequent baths unless they get dirty.
Other Grooming Needs: Ear care, nail care, and dental care are other essential aspects. Check their ears weekly for signs of infection, clear their ears regularly to prevent wax buildup, regularly trim their nails, and brush their teeth. Dental chews or toys can also be used to help reduce plaque and tartar buildup.
Exercise
PWDs have a moderate to high energy level. They need regular exercise to be physically and mentally fit. They particularly enjoy activities that involve water. You can engage them in activities like swimming and retrieving toys or balls from the water.
Swimming is the best form of exercise for them as they have a natural affinity towards water, and it also helps to burn body fat efficiently, thus preventing obesity.
Daily walks or runs are essential to keep PWDs engaged. Allow them to consistently explore the surroundings which can be very beneficial for them to burn excess energy.
Training
Highly intelligent and eager to please, training PWD is not a tough job. It's important to begin training your PWD as early as possible, ideally when they are puppies. Whenever they positively respond during the training sessions, reward them with praise, treats, and toys to further motivate them.
Though PWDs have good attention, they may become bored with repetitive tasks. Keep training sessions short (about 10-15 minutes) and engaging to maintain their interest and focus.
To develop socialization, expose your PWD to different people, animals, environments, and situations from a young age.
Dietary Requirements
PWDs require a diet rich in high-quality animal protein. This helps support their muscle development and overall health. So, choose dog foods that have meat (like chicken, turkey, beef, or fish) as the first ingredient.
A balanced combination of protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals is best for them. You can decide the feeding rate for your PWD based on their age, size, activity level, metabolism, and the specific nutritional content of the food being fed.
Generally, these breeds are fed twice a day, while in some cases three smaller meals are provided.
Things To Consider:
- Don't feed human foods such as chocolate, grapes and raisins. These foods can be toxic to PWDs.
- Avoid giving your PWD cooked bones from poultry or other sources as they may splinter and cause choking.
- Foods high in fat, such as fatty cuts of meat, bacon, or fried foods should be avoided. Such foods can lead to digestive disorders.
- Avoid overfeeding, this may lead to obesity.
- Provide access to fresh water at all times.
- PWD puppies have small stomachs as compared to adult ones. So, they may benefit from having their daily portion of food divided into several meals throughout the day. Divide their meals into 3 or 4 smaller portions.
Potential Health Issues
Certain health issues that PWDs are prone to are listed below:
- Juvenile Dilated Cardiomyopathy (JDCM): This is a heart condition that affects young Portuguese Water Dogs. This condition leads to an enlarged heart and potential heart failure.
- GM1 Storage Disease: This is a genetic disorder that affects the nervous system. It leads to neurological symptoms such as tremors, muscle weakness, and difficulty in movements.
- Hip Dysplasia: This is a common orthopedic issue in many dog breeds. It occurs when the hip joint doesn't develop properly. As a result, dogs can not move properly and may have to face a lot of pain.
- Thyroid disorders like hypothyroidism and eye disorders like Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) have also been reported in the Portuguese water dog breed.
Male Vs Female
Male Portuguese Water Dogs (PWDs) tend to be slightly larger and heavier than females. The males are also quite energetic and may require more exercise than the females.
The temperament such as intelligence, trainability, and affection however similar in both. These factors may be more influenced by genetics, socialization, and training.
Interesting Facts About Portuguese Water Dogs
- Portuguese Water Dogs are excellent swimmers. They have webbed feet which act like flippers.
- They also possess a rudder-like tail for steering and a thick, waterproof coat that saves them from the coldness of water.
- They were bred to be fishermen's right-hand companions in their homeland.
- The breed gained popularity after President Obama's family adopted two Portuguese Water Dogs namely Bo and Sunny.
- Their coat does not shed.
- Portuguese Water Dogs are intelligent and eager to please.
